An Augmented Reality Mobile App (Easypod AR) as a Complementary Tool in the Nurse-Led Integrated Support of Patients Receiving Recombinant Human Growth Hormone: Usability and Validation Study

BackgroundChildren with growth hormone deficiency face the prospect of long-term recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) treatment requiring daily injections. Adherence to treatment is important, especially at treatment initiation, to achieve positive health outcomes. Histor...

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Main Authors: Rosa Maria Baños, Laura-Maria Peltonen, Blaine Martin, Ekaterina Koledova
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2023-04-01
Series:JMIR Nursing
Online Access:https://nursing.jmir.org/2023/1/e44355
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author Rosa Maria Baños
Laura-Maria Peltonen
Blaine Martin
Ekaterina Koledova
author_facet Rosa Maria Baños
Laura-Maria Peltonen
Blaine Martin
Ekaterina Koledova
author_sort Rosa Maria Baños
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundChildren with growth hormone deficiency face the prospect of long-term recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) treatment requiring daily injections. Adherence to treatment is important, especially at treatment initiation, to achieve positive health outcomes. Historically, telenursing services embedded in patient support programs (PSPs) have been a valid approach to support r-hGH treatment initiation and patient education and facilitate adherence by identifying and optimizing appropriate injection techniques. The development of mobile phones with augmented reality (AR) capabilities offers nurses new tools to support patient education. ObjectiveTo investigate experiences among nurses of a new mobile phone app developed to support patient training with a phone-based PSP for r-hGH treatment. MethodsIn 2020, the Easypod AR mobile app was launched to support nurse-driven telehealth education for patients initiating r-hGH therapy with the Easypod electromechanical auto-injector device. Nurses who were part of PSPs in countries where the Easypod AR app had been launched or where training was provided as part of an anticipated future launch of the app were invited to participate in an online survey based on the Mobile App Rating Scale to capture their feedback after using the app. ResultsIn total, 23 nurses completed the online questionnaire. They positively rated the quality of the app across multiple dimensions. The highest mean scores were 4.0 for engagement (ie, adaptation to the target group; SD 0.74), 4.1 (SD 0.79) for functionality (navigation) and 4.1 (SD 0.67) for aesthetics (graphics). Responses indicated the potential positive impact of such a tool on enhancing patient education, patient support, and communication between patients and PSP nurses. Some participants also suggested enhancements to the app, including gamification techniques that they felt have the potential to support the formation of positive treatment behaviors and habits. ConclusionsThis study highlights the potential for new digital health solutions to reinforce PSP nurse services, including patient education. Future studies could explore possible correlations between any behavioral and clinical benefits that patients may derive from the use of such apps and how they may contribute to support improved patient experiences and treatment outcomes.
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spelling doaj.art-ed365e4a92524142951f522950b0b7032023-08-28T23:56:31ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Nursing2562-76002023-04-016e4435510.2196/44355An Augmented Reality Mobile App (Easypod AR) as a Complementary Tool in the Nurse-Led Integrated Support of Patients Receiving Recombinant Human Growth Hormone: Usability and Validation StudyRosa Maria Bañoshttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0626-7665Laura-Maria Peltonenhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5740-6480Blaine Martinhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2921-9685Ekaterina Koledovahttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2572-9052 BackgroundChildren with growth hormone deficiency face the prospect of long-term recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) treatment requiring daily injections. Adherence to treatment is important, especially at treatment initiation, to achieve positive health outcomes. Historically, telenursing services embedded in patient support programs (PSPs) have been a valid approach to support r-hGH treatment initiation and patient education and facilitate adherence by identifying and optimizing appropriate injection techniques. The development of mobile phones with augmented reality (AR) capabilities offers nurses new tools to support patient education. ObjectiveTo investigate experiences among nurses of a new mobile phone app developed to support patient training with a phone-based PSP for r-hGH treatment. MethodsIn 2020, the Easypod AR mobile app was launched to support nurse-driven telehealth education for patients initiating r-hGH therapy with the Easypod electromechanical auto-injector device. Nurses who were part of PSPs in countries where the Easypod AR app had been launched or where training was provided as part of an anticipated future launch of the app were invited to participate in an online survey based on the Mobile App Rating Scale to capture their feedback after using the app. ResultsIn total, 23 nurses completed the online questionnaire. They positively rated the quality of the app across multiple dimensions. The highest mean scores were 4.0 for engagement (ie, adaptation to the target group; SD 0.74), 4.1 (SD 0.79) for functionality (navigation) and 4.1 (SD 0.67) for aesthetics (graphics). Responses indicated the potential positive impact of such a tool on enhancing patient education, patient support, and communication between patients and PSP nurses. Some participants also suggested enhancements to the app, including gamification techniques that they felt have the potential to support the formation of positive treatment behaviors and habits. ConclusionsThis study highlights the potential for new digital health solutions to reinforce PSP nurse services, including patient education. Future studies could explore possible correlations between any behavioral and clinical benefits that patients may derive from the use of such apps and how they may contribute to support improved patient experiences and treatment outcomes.https://nursing.jmir.org/2023/1/e44355
spellingShingle Rosa Maria Baños
Laura-Maria Peltonen
Blaine Martin
Ekaterina Koledova
An Augmented Reality Mobile App (Easypod AR) as a Complementary Tool in the Nurse-Led Integrated Support of Patients Receiving Recombinant Human Growth Hormone: Usability and Validation Study
JMIR Nursing
title An Augmented Reality Mobile App (Easypod AR) as a Complementary Tool in the Nurse-Led Integrated Support of Patients Receiving Recombinant Human Growth Hormone: Usability and Validation Study
title_full An Augmented Reality Mobile App (Easypod AR) as a Complementary Tool in the Nurse-Led Integrated Support of Patients Receiving Recombinant Human Growth Hormone: Usability and Validation Study
title_fullStr An Augmented Reality Mobile App (Easypod AR) as a Complementary Tool in the Nurse-Led Integrated Support of Patients Receiving Recombinant Human Growth Hormone: Usability and Validation Study
title_full_unstemmed An Augmented Reality Mobile App (Easypod AR) as a Complementary Tool in the Nurse-Led Integrated Support of Patients Receiving Recombinant Human Growth Hormone: Usability and Validation Study
title_short An Augmented Reality Mobile App (Easypod AR) as a Complementary Tool in the Nurse-Led Integrated Support of Patients Receiving Recombinant Human Growth Hormone: Usability and Validation Study
title_sort augmented reality mobile app easypod ar as a complementary tool in the nurse led integrated support of patients receiving recombinant human growth hormone usability and validation study
url https://nursing.jmir.org/2023/1/e44355
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